November 2017 - balancing the scales

Volume 36 Number 6

November 1, 2017

Change Service Requested

scales

Kentuckians For The Commonwealth P.O. Box 1450 London, Ky. 40743

balancing the

Pension proposal a bad one for public workers ................. 4 Federal budget is moving through Congress.................. 5 DACA updates .................. 8, 9 Halloween fun, Pride Festival, film viewing, voter work and lots more on local update pages ................................ 11-16 6th annual Arty Pie Party ... 11 RECLAIM Act update .......... 17 What’s going on with the Clean Power Plan ................ 18 Kentucky Power wants a huge rate increase ........................ 21 Reflections from Organizer Apprentices ......................... 22 ‌ and much more inside!

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is a statewide grassroots social justice orga­­ ni­zation working for a new balance of power and a just society. KFTC uses direct-action organizing to accomplish the following goals: • foster democratic values • change unjust institutions • empower individuals • overcome racism and other discrimination • communicate a message of what’s possible • build the organization • help people participate • win issues that affect the common welfare • have fun KFTC membership dues are $15 to $50 per year, based on ability to pay. No one is denied membership because of inability to pay. Membership is open to anyone who is committed to equality, democracy and nonviolent change.

KFTC Steering Committee Meta Mendel-Reyes, chairperson Randy Wilson, vice chairperson Christian Torp, secretary-treasurer Cassia Herron, at-large member Dana Beasley Brown, immediate past chair Chapter Representatives open, Big Sandy Sarah Bowling, Central Kentucky Kimberly Shepherd, Harlan County Robby Olivam, Jefferson County Wendy Warren, Madison County Amy Copelin, Northern Kentucky Chanda Campbell, Perry County Chris Merritt, Rowan County Leslie Bebensee, Scott County Joy Fitzgerald, Shelby County Aeryn Darst, Southern Kentucky Amanda Groves, Western Kentucky Barbara Farley, Wilderness Trace Alternates: open, Big Sandy; Candice Ryder, Central Kentucky; Roy Farley, Harlan County; open, Jefferson County; Rebecca Tucker, Madison County; Lauren Gabbard, Northern Kentucky; Russell Oliver, Perry County; Allie Secor, Rowan County; Clare White, Scott County; Cynthia Dare, Shelby County; Megan Gammon, Southern Kentucky; Shaina Goodman, Western Kentucky; Margaret Gardiner, Wilderness Trace

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

Table of Contents

Executive Committee Corner: Political Sports Ball ....................................................................... 3

KFTC News Help build power during KFTC’s fall campaign ............................................................................ 6 Youth involvement with KFTC led to current staff positions................................................ 22 Hindman training brought feelings of being at home across the state............................ 22 Leader Cohort selection underway for Organizing Academy ............................................ 23 Lots of ways to take meaningful action in this issue................................................................ 23 KFTC Calendar of Events.................................................................................................................... 24 Economic Justice KFTC members lift up tax reform as pension solution ............................................................. 4 In words and deeds, Bevin shows disdain for public school teachers ................................ 4 Congress’ tax plan would be particularly hurtful to Kentuckians ......................................... 5 Action for Democracy Bringing about our vision for Kentucky .......................................................................................... 7 Thinking of running for office? Attend KFTC’s candidate exploration workshop .......... 7 Racial Justice DACA uncertainty: When Will I Feel Safe? .................................................................................... 8 DACA youth waiting on Congress to act ........................................................................................ 8 Equality & Justice for All: Madison chapter victory over racism ........................................... 9 Local Updates – Building Grassroots Power Halloween Spectacular a fun, filling event in Madison Co. .................................................... 10 Scott members share race experiences at “Get Out” showing................................................11 Southern and Western Kentucky members active ................................................................... 12 A page from Aeryn Darst’s zine ....................................................................................................... 12 Smoketown GetDown for Democracy.............................................................................................. 13 Northern Ky. members to help demystify local government.................................................. 14 KFTC members organizing across issues in eastern Kentucky......................................... 15-16 Counties hurting from loss of tax revenue. .................................................................................. 16 Unwanted Letcher prison still possible ......................................................................................... 16 New Energy and Transition Members push for congressional action on RECLAIM Act ................................................... 17 Act to protect the Clean Power Plan and clean energy jobs ............................................... 18 Submitting comments on proposed Clean Power Plan repeal............................................. 19 800 Acorns to celebrate the forests.............................................................................................. 20 Ky. Power seeks punishing rate hike in eastern Kentucky.........................................................21 Energy and Water Pipeline fight shifting after federal abandonment approval.................................................. 21 Legal threat gets coal ash results from Duke.............................................................................. 21

Like our new KFTC T-shirt?

You can get one free when you become a Sustaining Giver!

Use the form on page 6.

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

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executive committee corner

Political Sports Ball: protest by players has a long history

By Christian Torp KFTC vice-chair

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ctober 16, 1968, Mexico City. The Games of the XIX Olympiad, 200 metre event.

Won by American Tommie Smith, Australian Peter Norman placed Second and American John Carlos third.

Smith broke a world record with his time of 19.83. Smith and Carlos mounted the podium without shoes but with black socks to signify African American poverty. Smith wore a black scarf representative of Black Pride. Carlos had his tracksuit unzipped to show solidarity with blue-collar workers and a necklace of beads he wore which he described as: “for those individuals that were lynched, or killed and that no-one said a prayer for, that were hung and tarred. It was for those thrown off the side of the boats in the Middle Passage.”

On October 17 they were stripped of their metals.

The Olympic website (www.olympic.org) doesn’t mention their expulsion from the Olympic village; it doesn’t mention stripping them of their metals. It lists them as the first and third place victors, but it also doesn’t mention that they not only ordered Smith and Carlos to leave the Olympic Village, but to leave Mexico – immediately. It also doesn’t mention the decades of ostracism, criticism and death threats they received. Just last year, the U.S. Olympic Committee said of them: “The conversation they started in 1968 is still relevant today. They are still relevant today.”

That, my friends, is the definition of hypocrisy: if you can’t admit to what you did, everything you say is suspect.

ugust 26, 2016. Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California. San Francisco 49ers final preseason game against the Green Bay Packers.

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Balancing the Scales is published by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth and mailed third class from Lexington, Kentucky. Reader contri­ butions and letters to the editor should be sent to P.O. Box 864, Prestonsburg, Kentucky 41653 or jhardt@kftc.org. Subscriptions are $20/yr.

49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick fails to stand during the playing of The Star Spangled Banner. When interviewed after the game by NFL Media Reporter Steve Wyche, he said: “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

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ames of the XI Olympiad, Berlin, 1936. The height of Nazi Germany, swastikas and goosestepping SS marchers, and the most popular athlete of the games was Jesse Owens, an AfricanAmerican who won four gold medals. While U.S. Olympic Committee president Avery Brundage had the only two Jews on the U.S. team, Sam Stoller and Marty Glickman, pulled from competition so as not to add to Hitler’s embarrassment, Jesse Owens did what he could, where and when he could, to push progress.

But Colin Kaepernick, let alone Tommie Smith and John Carlos or Jesse Owens, are old news by now.

We’ve got Trump and his tweet-storms, what’s changed?

You’re a member of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, so you know that we’re not focused on candidates or any single issue, that we take the long view of social change. As a member of KFTC you know that We have a vision …

When discrimination is wiped out of our laws, habits, and hearts.

And when the voices of ordinary people are heard and respected in our democracy.

Now think back to Jesse Owens. After returning from Nazi Germany, he said, “When I came back to my native country, after all the stories about Hitler, I couldn’t ride in the front of the bus. I had to go to the back door. I couldn’t live where I wanted. I wasn't Cover: Around the state KFTC members have been registering voters, connecting voters to the issues they care about and that affect their communities, facilitating community engagement and the accountability of elected officials, and much more as they build a healthy democracy in Kentucky.

invited to shake hands with Hitler, but I wasn’t invited to the White House to shake hands with the president, either.”

Jesse Owens was in no position to raise a gloved fist in 1936 Berlin; it wouldn’t have made sense. In 1936, 18 African American athletes left the Berlin Olympics with a quarter of the total medals won by the U.S. team that summer. They did what they could, where and when they could, in a racist, segregated United States. Thirtytwo years later in the heat of an explosive summer and in the midst of the emerging Black Power Movement, Smith and Carlos risked, and lost, their world trophies.

Forty-eight years into the future a professional football player chose not to stand during the National Anthem, and the NFL and TV networks are losing millions.

n October 17 of this year, NFL team owners decided against a rule change which would require players to stand for the National Anthem, although they did accept a large share of the $53 million the Department of Defense spent on marketing and advertising contracts with sports teams from 2012 to 2015. Arizona Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake were so troubled by this “paid patriotism” that it was investigated and a 145-page report was created about the findings.

These athletes did what they could, when and where they could, for the betterment of all, for “these truths we hold to be self evident” and they took enormous personal risks to do so. Colin Kaepernick only received less than a third of his “record” seven-year, “guaranteed” $126 million contract and was assured that he would not receive the remainder due to his activism; he is now a free agent without a team, without a job … but he’s continued to speak out.

Doing the right thing isn’t about doing what’s easy, what’s comfortable or what’s safe. It’s about standing up and taking risk. These “heros” lost fame and fortune.

What are you willing to give up for the betterment of all?

At the very least, aren’t you willing to support an organization that you believe in, that has a track record of doing good work and making real change right here at home? At the very least, would you consider pledging a small, regular recurring amount to support the work of KFTC as a Sustaining Giver? The Torps do, and we’re proud to do it. Won’t you?

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“Hitler didn't snub me; it was our president who snubbed me. The president didn't even send me a telegram.” – Jesse Owens

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

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ECONOMIC JUSTICE

KFTC members lift up tax reform as pension solution KFTC is working for a day when all people have health care, shelter, food, education and other basic needs.

Unfortunately, the Bevin administration does not think public workers deserve to be treated with such dignity.

On October 18, the governor and Republican Party leaders released their plan to end the public pension system for state employees. This proposed plan breaks the promise made to state employees, lowers their wages, and devalues their public service and the essential programs we all rely on.

The proposed plan does this by freezing the cost of living adjustments to current retirees for five years and capping the benefit that current employees can accrue (both of which will likely be legally challenged).

Additionally, the governor’s plan ends a guaranteed pension for recent and all future state employee hires, forcing them into a Wall Street managed plan that does not offer the same retirement security while actually costing the state and local governments more money.

This plan does “promise” to fund the required state contributions for the ailing pension system, but does not offer a credible revenue source that would provide these funds over the next 30 years. Not once during the press conference did Bevin, Senate President Robert Stivers or House Speaker Jeff Hoover suggest they should do anything to raise revenue to fund their proposals, likely meaning they are setting the stage for severe cuts to

essential programs and services (Bevin has already asked state programs to cut their budgets by 17 percent).

Rep. Jim Wayne wrote recently in an op-ed: “Kentuckians are eager to support fiscal responsibility and smart investments in our state by cleaning up tax breaks. Tax reform legislation doing just that was filed by six dedicated House members in July in response to Gov. Bevin’s request for ideas to address our fiscal crisis. Our bill (BR 15) broadens the tax base, lowers taxes for the working poor and reduces tax breaks for the wealthy and special interests. The bill offers an opportunity to continue the conversation. So far, no response from the governor.”

As a whole, the governor’s pension plan is an attack on first responders, teachers and other state, county and school board employees, along with the services they provide that are integral to the commonwealth.

Moreso, the plan does not address the reason the state is facing this problem in the first place: the pension system is underfunded because governors and legislators did not fully fund it.

Blaming workers for the problem elected officials created and cutting the benefits they earned, as the governor wants to do, diverts attention from the

fundamental problem. Bevin and the Republican Party have chosen to attack public workers instead of making corporations pay their fair share of taxes, leaving too little revenue to invest in our communities and public servants.

This plan could effectively lower the quality of life for public workers and retirees. KFTC members are rising up to stand in solidarity with public workers and stop this plan.

Here’s how to get involved: •

• •

Call your legislators and/or write a letter-to-theeditor and say that we should be talking about how corporations should start paying their taxes so we fund our public pension system, not cut it.

Use the hashtags #dontcutitfundit and #apensionisapromise on social media.

Join a regional tax justice team! This is where the most important work happens because it is rooted in the needs of communities. There are currently teams in Northern Kentucky, Central Kentucky, Southern Kentucky, Scott County, Jefferson County, Madison County, Letcher County, Shelby County and the Wilderness Trace region. Not a team in your area? Then email tyler@kftc.org and he’ll help you get one started.

In words and deeds, Bevin shows disdain for public school teachers Frances “Cass” Dwyer, Public High School Teacher, Fayette County How do you and your colleagues feel about some of the comments Gov. Bevin has made about teachers?

When Matt Bevin said there's a group of greedy teachers out there that are hoarding sick days and hoarding these benefits – that just doesn't exist. That's not a reality in education. What you have are people who absolutely love the students they work with, absolutely love the feeling of making sure every kid has the possibility to be successful later in life. If there's anything we’re hoarding, it's how much we love our students.

To take a sick day as a teacher is one of the most stressful things you can do because you’re putting your babies, your students and their education for that day, into someone else's hands. As a teacher, it’s so much easier to just go to school rather than take time off because we recognize how important, how critical every moment is that we have with our students every day.

For many of our students, school is the only safe place in their life. We have students that are homeless, that live out of their cars, that come from homes where there are all kinds of a variety of issues going on.

So for us to not be there for a day means that some of our students won't

have that person in their life who’s their advocate. That we won't be there to tell them that things are going to be okay, I can be the stability in your life and no matter what else happens in the world during this time period, in my classroom I’m going to make sure you have everything you need to be successful even if outside this classroom it’s not the case.

So when Matt Bevin said that teachers were abusing their pension benefits it was so insulting and just so out of touch with what a teacher’s life is really like. If anything we spend our entire days – we spend our whole careers – doing nothing but pouring out. Pouring out love. We pour out money from our own pockets to pay for our own supplies because many of the schools that we teach in are underfunded. We pour out all of our knowledge. We pour out our own money to pay for the student loans that we’ve heavily invested in to make sure that we are the best of the best in our craft.

It just feels like a slap in the face. It feels like all the work, all of the sacrifices we make with our own families, with our own home life, are just for nothing.

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

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economic justice Plan would be particularly hurtful to Kentuckians

Congress plans to cut taxes now and programs later

By Ashley Spalding Kentucky Center for Economic Policy Now that the U.S. Senate and House have both passed budget plans that include a fast-track process for tax cuts, Congress is poised to launch the first step of a likely two-step tax and budget agenda. Step one is enacting tax cuts heavily skewed toward wealthy households and profitable corporations. Step two is paying for them later through program cuts that will deeply harm low- and middle-income Kentuckians.

Instead of trying to pass a single bill with both tax cuts and offsetting program cuts, the two-step strategy is an effort to distance the windfall for those at the top from the harm to low- and middle-income Americans.

The tax cuts being discussed could increase the deficit by $1.5 trillion over the next decade, with a true cost that is likely even higher because tax cuts do not pay for themselves. Eventually, the very same authors of expensive tax giveaways to the wealthy likely will point to investments in the safety net and middle class as the cause for the growing deficit and submit plans for deep entitlement and other spending cuts.

Blueprints for these cuts already exist in budget proposals laid out by the House, Senate and Trump Administration. Most Kentuckians would lose more from cuts to programs that support economic security and promote economic opportunity than they would gain from tax cuts slated toward millionaires. Here are some of the expected impacts of program cuts.

Increased Homelessness and Hardship Rental assistance for vulnerable families is a likely target for cuts. The Senate and House plans both propose cuts to Non-Defense Discretionary (NDD) funding and while neither specifies where the cuts would come from, the President’s budget hits housing assistance hard. In Kentucky, 153,584 people (76,039 households) receive assistance through Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rental assistance programs.

Elderly Kentuckians Worse Off The budget proposals from President Trump and the House and Senate would cut health care and basic assistance for millions of low- and moderate-income seniors. All three budget plans call for cutting Medicaid – a primary source of funding for nursing home care

Shrinking Investments in Students and Schools

for Kentuckians, among other needs – and subsidies to purchase coverage through a health care exchange; and the House and Senate propose cutting Medicare by nearly $500 billion over 10 years. At-risk NDD funds for programs like housing assistance are an important support for elderly Kentuckians, as is federal food assistance, which is also at risk (discussed below); 25 percent of Kentuckians receiving food assistance are elderly or disabled.

Kentuckians with Disabilities Hurt Programs that provide critical support for Kentuckians with disabilities are also likely targets for cuts, with the administration and congressional leaders already pointing to existing projected deficits to justify cuts. These programs include: NDD spending including housing assistance, Medicaid, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Medicare, food assistance, and Social Security Income (SSI provides income support for very poor individuals who are disabled or elderly). Representing just a portion of Kentuckians with disabilities who rely on these programs, there were 180,613 Kentuckians receiving SSI benefits and 203,471 receiving SSDI in December 2016.

Once a tax bill is passed and deficits grow, it will likely be argued that cuts to education are needed – especially since the House and Trump budget specifically propose NDD funding cuts to K-12 education. NDD funds in Kentucky support the two main federal grant programs for local schools (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Title I), Head Start, School Improvement Grants and adult education. In addition, financial aid for college students such as Pell Grants (part of Pell funding is NDD) is a potential target for cuts; 102,360 students in Kentucky received a Pell Grant last year.

Threats to Food Assistance The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is also at risk for cuts. The House and Trump budget plans include at least $140 billion in cuts to SNAP over 10 years – and while the Senate doesn’t lay out specific program cuts, the parameters it does outline could necessitate SNAP cuts similar to the other two budget proposals. In February 2017, 651,889 Kentuckians (308,453 households) were receiving SNAP, with an average benefit per person, per meal of $1.36.

Most Kentucky Children Would Be Worse Off

When the bill on tax cuts comes due, many programs that provide support to Kentucky children could be cut. These include Medicaid, SSI, SNAP, tax credits for working families and other key investments such as education funding and housing, as discussed above; 41 percent of Kentucky’s SNAP recipients are under the age of 18.

How they voted The U.S. Senate passed the budget resolution 51-49 on October 19. The House concurred on October 26 on a 216-212 vote. Sen. Mitch McConnell led the effort to pass the legislation; however, Sen. Rand Paul was the only Senate Republican to vote against it. In a statement, Paul said he fully supports tax cuts but wanted to have even more restraints on spending.

In the House, Kentucky representatives James Comer, Brett Guthrie, Hal Rogers and Andy Barr all voted in favor of the budget resolution. Reps. John Yarmuth and Thomas Massie voted against it, for dramatically different reasons (Yarmuth because of the harm it will do and Massie for reasons similar to Rand Paul’s).

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

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You can help build GRaSSRooTS poweR

The moment we’re in calls for vision and action. KFTC members continue to believe our vision for Kentucky is possible, and work for it every day.

We have a vision. We are working for a day when Kentuckians – and all people – enjoy a better quality of life. When the lives of people and communities matter before profits.

When our communities have good jobs that support our families without doing damage to the water, air, and land. When companies and the wealthy pay their share of taxes and can’t buy elections. When all people have health care, shelter, food, education, and other basic needs. When children are listened to and valued. When discrimination is wiped out of our laws, habits, and hearts. And when the voices of ordinary people are heard and respected in our democracy.

Here’s what you can do today: Become a Sustaining Giver

With an automatic, recurring gift, you can help ensure that KFTC’s work to build grassroots power keeps happening every day, all year long. Your membership will always be current, and we’ll send you our new logo T-shirt.

We’re building grassroots power to achieve this vision. Lifting up the voices of Kentuckians.

Growing community leaders. Empowering voters. Resisting with vision.

Your membership makes it possible. During our fall campaign, we’ll be inviting KFTC members to renew your membership and bring others into the work.

Renew your membership today

Your gift of any size will make you a member for another year.

Invite a friend or family member to join KFTC One great way to do that is by hosting a PowerBuilder page. PowerBuilders help recruit members and raise funds for KFTC by hosting their own online pages. To sign up, contact the Development Team: amy@kftc.org or ebeth@kftc.org

Join or renew online: www.KFTC.org/donate Name: _________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________ City: ___________________ State & Zip: _____________ Home Phone: ________________ Cell Phone: ______________ Email: _________________________________________

Make me a Sustaining Giver!

I will contribute $ _____ every: Month Quarter Year To update an existing Sustaining Gift, contact Ashley at ashley@kftc.org or (606) 878-2161.

Choose your T-shirt size:

XS S M L XL 2X Or skip the premium and put more of your donation straight to work.

I would rather make a one-time gift of: $250

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Suggested membership dues are $15-$50 annually, based on ability to pay. We welcome you to give whatever amount you are able.

Select what organization you would like to donate to:

KFTC: Membership dues and donations are used for lobbying and not tax-deductible.

Kentucky Coalition: Membership dues and donations are tax-deductible.

Payment Method:

Check or money order enclosed.

Bank withdrawal: Please return this form with a voided check. (Best option for Sustaining Givers) Credit card: Complete card information: Visa Mastercard Am. Express Discover Card Number: __ __ __ __ -__ __ __ __ -__ __ __ __ -__ __ __ __ Expiration Date ___ ___ / ___ ___

Bank Withdrawal/Credit Card Payment Authorization I authorize KFTC/KY Coalition and their authorized third-party processing vendor(s) to debit my account or charge my credit card in accordance with the information provided. I understand that this authority will remain in effect until cancelled or changed by reasonable notification to KFTC/KY Coalition.

Authorized Signature: _________________________________ Date: _____________________

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

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KFTC voter engagement

Bringing about our vision for Kentucky

KFTC believes in the power of people working together to take action on issues that affect all Kentuckians. We also believe in a democracy where everyone is included, voting is accessible, elections are fair and elected leaders are responsive to folks in their communities.

KFTC is committed to working year-round to register, educate and mobilize voters. And we plan to elevate this voter engagement work in 2018 and beyond so we can begin to move closer to our vision for a healthy and vibrant democracy.

KFTC engages in elections in an effort to create an authentic, participatory democracy in Kentucky, something we believe does not exist now but is necessary for creating the kind of policies that lead to the quality of life reflected in our Vision Statement. We also seek to create an environment in which better candidates will run for office and get elected. And our voter engagement strategy goes hand in hand with our issue campaigns like Tax Justice and Just Transition, and other work aimed at building power to bring about lasting change in our commonwealth.

During this non-election year in Kentucky, KFTC is working toward building a powerful, sophisticated and innovative voter engagement strategy that will engage and organize more voters; recruit, develop, and support more progressive candidates; and change the public and political conversation around elections in Kentucky.

We’re calling this emerging strategy Action for Democracy, KFTC’s year-round approach to building grassroots power to win on election day, increase civic engagement, build a healthy democracy and pass progressive local, state and federal legislation that improves the quality of life for all Kentuckians.

Alicia Hurle, KFTC Deputy Organizing Director for Democracy, spent several weeks this fall visiting KFTC chapters from Prestonsburg to Paducah to discuss how grassroots leaders can work together to develop local Action for Democracy strategies, including planning voter registration drives, community phonebanks

and canvassing efforts, candidate forums, and voter education workshops and publications.

Chapters also took time to envision what Kentucky will look like once we’re able to turn the political tide and create a healthy and vibrant democracy. Members imagined a Kentucky where things like a living wage, universal health care, accessible voting and high voter turnout, KFTC members in elected office, renewable energy systems and free higher education are realities.

In a show of commitment to this vision for our democracy, chapters are in the process of creating local Democracy Teams to lead the Action for Democracy work in their areas. If you’re interested in joining a Democracy Team or if you have any questions about KFTC’s Action for Democracy work, please contact Alicia at 502-589-3188 or alicia@kftc.org.

Read below about some upcoming Action for Democracy events happening in November and December.

Action for Democracy Launch If you’re reading this in time, join us on Tuesday, November 7 at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT for our Action for Democracy online launch!

Usually on the first Tuesday in November you might be huddled close to your television or Twitter feed watching election results. But since 2017 isn’t an election year in Kentucky, spend time with KFTC members and allies from across the state celebrating our grassroots work, learning about our emerging Action for Democracy strategy, and building momentum for the 2018 primary and general elections.

You can join the Action for Democracy Launch online at https://zoom.us/j/622887665 or via phone 669-900-6833 or 646-558- 8656 (use Meeting ID: 622 887 665). A recording of the launch and a list of ways to get involved also will be available on KFTC’s website: http://kftc.org/ afd-launch.

Contact Alicia Hurle, KFTC Deputy Organizing Director for Democracy, with questions at 502-589-3188 or alicia@kftc.org.

Thinking of running for office? Attend KFTC’s candidate exploration workshop

KFTC’s Candidate Exploration Workshop will bring together KFTC members and allies who want to connect their personal strengths, values and drive with their desire to serve their community in elected office. This workshop is perfect for progressive Kentuckians who are considering their options and are ready to dedicate time to exploring what it will take to run for elected office.

This five-hour workshop will be led by S&A Strategies, a Lexington-based consulting firm. It will take place on Saturday, December 9 in Lexington.

The S&A team understands there are real personal barriers and challenges an individual will encounter when making the decision to run for office. This workshop will give potential candidates the opportunity to assess and reflect on those challenges.

Participants also will learn ways to bring their beliefs, values, skills and

passions with them on the campaign trail, while learning how to better connect with potential constituents in their communities.

This workshop is free, and lunch and refreshments will be provided. However, if you are currently filed to run for office, an $80 fee is required.

Space is limited, so please apply today! The application deadline is Friday, November 17. Applicants will be notified of acceptance by Wednesday, November 22.

Apply online at http://bit.ly/kftcworkshop. If you have questions about this workshop, the application process, need help arranging transportation or if you have a disability and require accommodation in order to fully participate in this workshop, please contact Alicia Hurle at 502-589-3188 or alicia@kftc.org. The Northside Library is wheelchair accessible.

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

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member commentary

DACA uncertainty: when will I feel safe?

When will I feel safe?

Undocumented immigrants have been asking themselves this question for decades. More recently, since starting dating my girlfriend, who has DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), I have been asking myself this question, day in and day out. I cannot imagine the pressure that this question puts on my friends and their families as they try to live normal lives.

When will I feel safe? When my friends and their families live in fear of deportation for even having a broken taillight? No. When they can’t get a certain job because they can’t provide a social security number but the government happily gives them a tax I.D. number to pay into social security with? No. When they go to work at a factory, or in the case of Owensboro, Kentucky, a restaurant, and find themselves swept up in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid? No.

When will I feel safe? When will I have the freedom to pursue happiness? When will we have marriage equality in this country?

Until my girlfriend and I can get married without the fear of her being deported and getting barred from the country for ten years, don’t tell me we have marriage equality. This is not the land of promise and opportunity

that the United States has always claimed to be.

DACA – Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals – was an executive order that gave immigrant youth a work permit and allowed them to pursue their education.

Even though these are some of the brightest and hardest working people that I know, they have had even that little bit of opportunity taken away from them.

Many of my friends that have DACA are on track to become doctors, scientists, farmers, educators, businesspeople, lawyers and diplomats. They want to work in the communities that raised them but, without DACA or a pathway to citizenship, that will not be possible.

The 45th president has taken away DACA and the peace of mind of about 800,000 young immigrants and their families and friends.

My friends and I want a Clean Dream Act, which means that we want a permanent solution without any added immigration enforcement or criminalization.

Please contact your U.S. representatives so that we will all feel safe.

Adam Funck Berea, Kentucky

DACA youth waiting on Congress to act At least 800,000 young people living in the United States, their families, friends and employers are hoping the U.S. Congress acts soon to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

DACA allows undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children to apply to stay in the country while they pursue their education or employment.

But in early September, President Donald Trump announced his decision to end the DACA program, though he delayed termination for six months. That gives Congress time to overturn Trump’s decision and create a permanent solution for young people who immigrated to the United States as children.

Under the DACA program, which began in June 2012 through executive order by President Barack Obama, to be eligible for DACA status one must: • • • • •

have immigrated to the U.S. before their 16th birthday, been under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012, have continuously resided in the U.S. since June 2007, be currently in school or have graduated (or have a GED or equivalent), or an honorably discharged veteran, have not been convicted of a felony or significant misdemeanor.

So far Congress has failed to act.

TAKE ACTION – As KFTC members, we can make our individual and collective voices heard.

Call U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul and your representative (list to the right) urging them to “pass legislation, such as the Dream Act or the American Hope Act, to protect DACA youth.”

Contact members of Congress Sen. Mitch McConnell (202) 224-2541 – Washington (502) 582-6304 – Louisville (859) 224-8286 – Lexington (859) 578-0188 – Fort Wright (606) 864-2026 – London (270) 781-1673 – Bowling Green (270) 442-4554 – Paducah Sen. Rand Paul (202) 224-4343 (270) 782-8303 (859) 219-2239 (502) 582-5341 (270) 689-9085 (270) 885-1212

– – – – – –

Washington Bowling Green Lexington Louisville Owensboro Hopkinsville

U.S. House Members Rep. James Comer, 1st District (202) 225-3115 – Washington (270) 487-9509 – Madisonville (270) 408-1865 – Paducah (270) 487-9509 – Tompkinsville Rep. Brett Guthrie, 2nd District (202) 225-3501 – Washington (270) 842-9896 – Bowling Green Rep. John Yarmuth, 3rd District (202) 225-5401 – Washington (502) 933-5863 – Louisville (502) 582-5129 – Louisville Rep. Thomas Massie, 4th District (202) 225-3465 – Washington (606) 324-9898 – Ashland (502) 265-9119 – LaGrange (859) 426-0080 – Crescent Springs Rep. Hal Rogers, 5th District (202) 225-4601 – Washington (606) 679-8346 – Somerset (606) 886-0844 – Prestonsburg (606) 439-0794 – Hazard Rep. Andy Barr, 6th District (202) 225-4706 – Washington (859) 219-1366 – Lexington

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 9

Racial justice

Equality & Justice for All: Madison chapter victory over racism

By Meta Mendel-Reyes

In an era in which racism is on the rise, the Madison County Chapter of KFTC worked with Berea residents to win a victory for inclusion and equality.

After a two-year struggle, the local Chamber of Commerce agreed to prohibit Confederate flag merchandise from Berea’s annual Spoonbread Festival, which draws more than 50,000 people from around the state.

In the past, everyone enjoyed the exhibits, music and crafts, except for African American residents and visitors who were forced to endure symbols of slavery in the form of Confederate flag merchandise for sale.

Berea United for Racial Justice (BURJ) was formed to respond to the outbreak of Confederate flags following the murder of nine African Americans in a church in Charleston, South Carolina. Because the killer, Dylann Roof, displayed a picture of himself wrapped in the Confederate flag on social media, some towns and states, including South Carolina, took down the Confederate flags on government buildings.

In response, some white Southerners began to display the flag in public places all over their states, claiming that it was a symbol of “heritage,” not racism.

The Berea residents who founded BURJ wanted to show that white people in Berea were ready to stand up for an end to prejudice and discrimination. Many of the BURJ members were also members of KFTC, and the Madison County chapter itself joined the fight to end the sale of these symbols of hate.

It is important to recognize that it was not a question of interpretation – heritage versus racism – because the heritage was racism. In fact, the Confederate flag did not become popular until the beginning of the 20th

century, which also saw the creation

A year went by, a new president and display of statues of Confederate of the Chamber of Commerce came It was not a question figures and monuments to the “Lost on board, and the mayor proposed Cause.” a resumption of the festival but of interpretation – The flags and memorials only if the sale of Confederate flag heritage versus racism coincided with the rise of the Ku Klux merchandise was prohibited. With the – because the heritage Klan, which was part of a backlash public support of BURJ and KFTC, was racism. to the granting of civil and voting and the pressure of lost revenue, the rights to the newly-freed slaves. So negotiations were successful.

This year the Spoonbread Festival the heritage that is being claimed here is segregation, lynching and other instances of racism in was held without the Confederate merchandise, without complaints from the festival-goers. In addition to winning practice.

The campaign to remove the Confederate flag a victory, the campaign taught us important lessons.

One is that instant success is very rare, and you have merchandise began with a silent vigil, in which Berea College students and a few others walked through the to be in it for the long haul.

Spoonbread Festival carrying signs. The vigil brought the Another is that campaign planning is key because issue to light, which set off nearly two years of meetings actions need to be sequenced and escalate effectively.

Coalition-building is an important lesson; BURJ and with the Chamber of Commerce, other town officials and city council members, as well as presentations at KFTC reached out to churches and other institutions to increase the power of numbers, but also because it gave city council meetings.

The issue was about the Spoonbread Festival, which us greater credibility within the community. receives public funding; people would retain the right to A negative lesson is that you need to organize the put flags on their trucks and T-shirts as private citizens. whole community, or at least move beyond a KFTC As the campaign escalated, BURJ and KFTC bubble. If we had roots in the more conservative parts of called for a demonstration in front of the Chamber of our community, perhaps it would have been harder for Commerce office, which lasted for more than 3 hours in us to be scapegoated for the cancellation of the festival. the pouring rain. We were stunned to learn the reaction KFTC’s strategy of deep canvassing is one way to ensure of the Chamber – rather than remove the Confederate that we’re listening to the whole community and not just merchandise, they would cancel the Spoonbread Festival. the people who agree with us.

By this point, we were aware that our campaign In the final analysis, KFTC helped win a rare victory was caught up in a battle between the chamber and the in the struggle against racism. That has strengthened our mayor, but many Berea residents believed the chamber work overall, such as the creation of the Racial Justice and blamed KFTC for the cancellation of the festival. Committee and the strong organizational statements As a result, the city lost significant revenue, as well as supporting immigrants and Muslims and opposing white nationalists and Neo-Nazis. the opportunity for community celebration.

Creative ways to invest in KFTC In addition to your membership dues, did you know you can give even more to KFTC without doing anything extra? With alternative giving programs like MyChange, Kroger Community Rewards and Amazon Smile, a portion of your purchases can be directed to KFTC.

Kroger Community Rewards – Krogercommunityrewards.com Choose Kentucky Coalition, organization #10888 It takes only a few minutes to type in your Kroger Plus Card number and choose Kentucky Coalition.

It’s easy. Just visit these websites to sign up, and without even thinking about it you’ll be giving more to build grassroots power in Kentucky.

Amazon Smile – Smile.amazon.com Choose Kentucky Coalition, Inc. When you shop through the Smile website at smile.amazon.com, 0.5% of the purchase price will benefit KFTC.

MyChange – mychange.com/kentuckians-for-the-commonwealth Sign up for MyChange and start “rounding up” your credit card purchases to the nearest dollar and donating the “change” to KFTC.

Heine Brothers’ Coffee – Heinebroscoffee.com Purchase a bag of Mountain Dream Coffee and KFTC will receive 50 cents (heinebroscoffee.com/shop/mountain-dream/).

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

10 | Balancing the Scales

Building Grassroots Power

Halloween Spectacular a fun, filling event in Madison Co.

By Matthew Frederick As a fall season balance to its successful spring pie auction, the Madison County KFTC Chapter held its first Halloween Spectacular on October 22.

Folks gathered in the basement of Union Church in Berea to celebrate the season, the Halloween h o l i d a y, a n d the work of the membership, as well as to promote the good cheer that comes from supporting the Chapter member Becca Parrish ongoing mission enjoyed the 2017 Halloween of KFTC.

The cool fall Spectacular.

evening party began as guests started entering to the enticing smells coming from the chili table. One of the main features of the evening, the chili cook-off put around a dozen slow-cookers full of homemade chilis in competition. After devouring the superb offerings, attendees were invited to vote for the winning chili by placing a few dollars in a chili’s glass donation jar, with all of the proceeds benefiting KFTC.

After a satisfyingly diverse chili supper, folks found themselves taking advantage of the party’s amenities and other activities. An ongoing costume contest split into two divisions based on age led to two fortunate individuals receiving generous baskets of candy.

While mingling around tables of snacks, attendees decorated locally sourced miniature pumpkins. They also found themselves making valuable connections and discussing the future actions and direction of KFTC. Those present also engaged with the Action for Democracy table, where they were able to register to vote. The table also presented information and resources The Madison County chapter has held several voter engagement trainings this fall, including the one seen to the left with Adam Funck for Berea College students that drew about 150 participants.

KFTC on social media Facebook www.KFTC.org/facebook For chapter Facebook pages, visit: www.kftc.org/links

Instagram

@kentuckiansforthecommonwealth To find our photos on Flickr:

@KFTC @NKY_KFTC @ScottCoKFTC @MadCo_KFTC @EKY_KFTC

@JCKFTC @WT_KFTC @SoKyKFTC @VotingRightsKY @CanaryProject

www.flickr.com/ photos/KFTCphotos

on voter registration, empowering those present to register others. By making knowledge and its dissemination an integral part of the process, voter empowerment becomes a selfr e p l i c a t i n g Member John Wade took phenomenon.

B y b r i n g i n g home the blue ribbon and people together in a prize basket with his holiday celebration, chicken chili! the Madison County chapter sought to entertain and lift up its membership.

Additionally, it collected funds and resources to further KFTC’s vision while emboldening and empowering its community through making more robust connections, voter engagement and informal planning.

With encouraging initial results, the chapter hopes to continue this event next year, transforming it into an even larger event with an even more positive impact on our democracy.

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 11

Building Grassroots Power

Scott members share race experiences at “Get Out” showing

Members of the Georgetown-Scott County NAACP, Scott County KFTC Chapter, Central Kentucky Showing Up for Racial Justice and Georgetown Justice Speaks helped organize a showing of the film Get Out. The room was split between those who had seen the movie several times and those who were taking it in for the first time. The audience agreed that no matter which viewing one was in, the film and the discussion helped them come away with a new perspective.

As one attendee said, “This is probably my fifth time watching it, and I pick up on different things each time I’ve seen it. One of the themes I connected it to was control.”

This theme came up among other conversations about cultural appropriation, “diet racism,” white liberalism, wealth privilege, and other ways people separate within their communities.

Robbi Barber related the movie to her experiences in the workplace, often being the only person of color at work, and how she has worked to expand diversity at Georgetown College. Others in the room shared similar experiences, such as teachers asking them to not be so loud, shock when someone is a classically trained singer, and also differing interpretations of what being AfricanAmerican means to people within the community.

Kealyn Payton (above, second from right) shared her high school experience during the group discussion .

The discussion also turned to the work that various Scott County, I began noticing racial injustice in town. people and organizations brought into the room: the As a result, I began working on Georgetown Justice Take Back Cheapside work, voting rights, Charlottesville, Speaks and am working towards an educational festival mass incarcerations, and simply what it is like living in in the spring around local racial justice issues to help Scott County. bring light and discussion on these issues.”

Kaelyn Payton, a senior at Scott County High Attendees at the film showing said they look School, talked about how recently she’s become more forward to continuing this conversation in their communities, partnering with each other on other aware of the work that needs to be done around her.

“I didn’t have a class with another person the events, having one-on-one conversations through the work each organization is same color as me until doing, and the racial justice I transferred to Bryan Follow the Scott County chapter’s work on event that Georgetown Station my sophomore social media – Twitter: @ScottCoKFTC, Justice Speaks is planning year,” Payton shared.

Facebook.com/scottcounty.kftc/ for the spring.

“When I came back to

The Scott County KFTC Chapter invites you …

The Scott County KFTC Chapter invites everyone to its 6th Annual Arty Pie Party!

Taking place on November 11, 7 p.m. at Yuko-En on the Elkhorn (700 Cincinnati Road in Georgetown), chapter members invite folks to join them for a silent auction of arts, crafts and just desserts! This is a new venue to make room for more food, more dancing and more pie!

There will be music provided by local Gypsy Jazz style band Stirfry Musette! Weather permitting, there may even be a bonfire that night!

Folks from neighboring counties and chapters regularly attend this annual event, often donating art or dessert for what is always a wonderful auction featuring local artists!

The program will include speakers talking about the need to protect public pensions, ongoing work around racial justice in Scott County, and the chapter’s work supporting a Fairness ordinance in Georgetown!

12 | Balancing the Scales

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

Building Grassroots Power This is a zine page from Southern Kentucky chapter member Aeryn Darst

Southern Kentucky chapter members (from left) Laura Harper, Anna Burt, Laura Kelly and Libby Kelly registered new voters and talked tax justice at Bowling Green’s inaugural Pride Festival in October.

The Southern Kentucky chapter hosted a yard sale in September to raise grassroots funds for KFTC. Members pictured are (left to right) Joyce Adkins, Ramona Sudbeck, Denise Zielinski, Pete Zielinski, Tara Sorrels and Angela Conway.

Western Kentucky chapter members held a potluck and Action for Democracy training in Paducah on October 15. Chapter members also have been showing up at town halls to question U.S. Rep. James Comer, participating in anti-racism rallies and learning about tax justice and pension issues.

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 13

Building Grassroots Power

Smoketown GetDown for Democracy

By Dari’Anne Hudson

The cold and chilly weather brought by hurricanes ceased in Louisville for the 4th annual Smoketown GetDown for Democracy block party on September 15. The energy of friends, neighbors, vendors, and performers were only rivaled by the clear, bright sky.

Taking place at the Jefferson County chapter office on Lampton Street, the block party proved to be another success.

Louisville has experienced many ups and downs of the current political climate in the nation. Widespread violent crime, threats to undocumented immigrants, continued environmental injustices, and many other issues are evidence of the uphill battle that is present.

Yet hundreds gathered in Smoketown to celebrate gains in affordable housing, community revitalization, and unified organizing efforts across various issues.

The Smoketown neighborhood is no different in its successes – it has maintained a strong momentum toward creating a neighborhood where all residents thrive.

Louisville resident Cassia Herron, who has attended the event in the past, said, “I had been looking forward to attending as a stress-free, family-friendly, bike-able event for me and the kids. I love live music and I love to dance, so the event was like a free mental health care

Thanks

session for me! Dancing can be liberating and a great way to relieve stress.

“I also like the event because it’s a chance to catch up with people whom I otherwise would not get to see, but know from other work. I appreciated getting to catch up with the Smoketown Family Wellness Center folks and the picture booth is always fun!”

A key piece of ensuring that residents continue thriving in Smoketown was the newly announced Smoketown Boys & Girls Club on Jacob & Finzer streets. The Boys & Girls Club of Kentuckiana and the Community Foundation of Louisville in partnership with The Wheelhouse Project announced plans of the development at the block party.

The exciting announcement came on the heels of breathtaking performances by local musical artists and young dancers that are taking the arts community by storm.

See more photos from the GetDown: And in true fashion, the Jefferson https://flic.kr/s/aHsm7KUuSL County KFTC Chapter stayed on the course of furthering the mission for Check out the Storify about the GetDown: democracy: 11 people were registered https://storify.com/kentuckiansftc/2017-smoketown-getdown as new or renewing KFTC members, 10 people updated voter registrations and 5 people were Democracy was successfully carried out in a spirit of registered to vote for the first time. fun collaboration with community partners, and we all The 4th annual Smoketown GetDown for look forward to getting down together next year.

for being a member or supporter of KFTC. You make the work you read about in Balancing the Scales possible – 36 years of it!

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

14 | Balancing the Scales

Building Grassroots Power

Northern Ky. members to help demystify local government The Northern Kentucky KFTC Chapter is experience. On hand to answer questions will be: expecting a good turnout for its November 7 forum • State Representative and former Covington City “Unpack Politics: Demystifying Local Government.”

Manager Arnold Simpson The event on Tuesday, November 7 from 6-8 • Covington Independent Schools board member p.m. at Our Savior Church (246 E. 10th Street in and Covington City Commissioner Pam Covington) is aimed at helping break down the barriers Mullins residents have with local • former Campbell government and better County commissioner Follow the Northern Kentucky chapter's understanding how local and current Newport ongoing work on social media – Instagram government works.

City Commissioner at northernky_KFTC, Twitter: @NKY_KFTC, A panel will include Ken Recthin Facebook.com/nky.kftc. folks with a variety of • Park Hills City

Councilmember Jason Reser The event will be moderated by local KFTC member and leader Michelle Slaughter.

This is a great place to ask questions ranging from broad questions such as “What does a city commissioner do?” “What is a city manager form of government?” and “What are local school boards responsible for?” to specific concerns like “Who is in charge of clearing this street?” “How do I find out what protections tenants have with their landlord?” and “Who is responsible for protecting people from discrimination in our communities?”

This event is aimed at helping all citizens understand how to make change in their community, and to better understand the differences between various local and state government responsibilities.

Unpack Politics Demystifying Local Government

Hear from current and past elected officials on why they decided to first run for office; what different local offices do; how everyday citizens can help make government work; and how to break down barriers that are keeping people out of the process.

our esteemed Panelists: PameLa mULLins

Former Covington Independent Schools board member Covington City Commissioner

arnoLD simPson KY House of Representatives

Ken rechtin Sarah “Xena Social Justice Warrior Princess” Martin (in mask) is the reigning Ladies Arm Wrestling champion in Lexington, winning the annual competition for the second time on September 15 at Al’s Bar. The Central Kentucky Chapter participated in the event hosted by the Kentucky Workers League to raise money for KWL’s women’s group and the Kentucky Health Justice Network.

Newport City Commissioner Former Campbell County Commissioner

Jason reser

Park Hills City Council Member

moderated by: michelle slaughter

Social justice radio shows produced by KFTC Central Kentucky chapter members Recent shows: Our Lives are on the Line The Health of our Commonwealth On The Table • To Be Fair

Listen to the recordings at: soundcloud.com/ user-611665944

hosted by: Kentuckians For the commonwealth

November 7, 2017 • 6pm - 8pm Our Savior Church 246 East Tenth Street, covington, Kentucky 41011

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 15

Building Grassroots Power

KFTC members organize across issues in eastern Kentucky supremacist organizing.

• Over the summer, And while many visionary KFTC hired four organizer and powerful communityapprentices to work with led responses have emerged our chapters and other to address those crises and communities in eastern shape a brighter future, Kentucky. Their early those efforts are too often focus was having one-toundermined by proposals one conversations with and actions in Congress dozens of members, allies, and the Kentucky General and potential members Assembly. throughout the region.

For all those reasons Out of those and more, Bev May’s words Meeting with Rep. Jill York (second from right) were conversations, many new ring true. Community (left to right) KFTC Apprentice Jacob Mack-Boll, organizing opportunities organizing – the process of Jenny Cline-Tacket, Tina Jackson and Mark Jackson. are beginning to emerge. building relationships and As one woman in Louisa working together to make change for the better – is the said when she answered a phone call from a KFTC antidote to being marginalized. And today many people apprentice, “I think I’ve been waiting for this call across eastern Kentucky – KFTC members as well as my whole life.” friends and allies working in aligned local efforts – are stepping forward to build strong communities and • In October, the Big Sandy KFTC Chapter hosted demand bold changes. The examples that follow are a well-attended workshop to plan for putting only a few examples from recent weeks and months. democracy in action in 2018. Around the room, people expressed a desire to see better candidates, more women running for local elections, a greater diversity of views and people in the local political landscape, and more people active and involved in the process. When asked about their vision for the future, participants mentioned health care for all, solar energy jobs in Kentucky and affordable access to eastern Kentucky chapters of KFTC solar power, automatic voter registration, improved high school graduation rates, and laws protecting d e f d e f d e f d LGBT people everywhere from discrimination.

As Bev May, a registered nurse who is pursuing her PhD in public health, has often said, people in eastern Kentucky who work for health care, clean water or clean elections are tired of being marginalized. “And we must not marginalize ourselves. We know what’s right and what our communities need.” She encourages us to be bold in demanding those things.

Her words are important to hold onto. Since the last election – and even a long time before that – it has been rough going. Many people working for social justice in eastern Kentucky and other rural places have felt isolated and marginalized within our own communities. The polarization of our national politics cuts close to the bone here, as relationships with many family members and co-workers have become strained, sometimes to the breaking point.

Those personal and political tensions have been intensified by a whirlwind of serious challenges facing eastern Kentucky. The region has been slammed in recent years by steep job losses, shrinking local revenues for schools and local governments, rising costs of energy, housing and higher education, an epidemic of opioid and other drug addictions, and the rise of white

Celebrate the holidays with the

d

e

f

Join the eastern Kentucky chapters of KFTC for a holiday

•

This month, KFTC members in Louisa organized an in-district meeting with Rep. Jill York, a Republican member of the Kentucky House, to discuss the need to protect public pensions, raise revenue fairly through progressive tax reform, and protect and expand access to affordable health care. Additional meetings with other regional lawmakers are being requested and planned by KFTC members leading up to a potential special session on pensions and the 2018 regular session.

•

KFTC members and hundreds of teachers, state workers, and concerned residents turned out to local public forums in Pikeville, Prestonsburg and Barbourville (among many other places) to oppose Governor Bevin’s effort to walk away continued on next page

celebration with music, food, and fellowship! We’ll have a potluck dinner, a silent auction and celebrate all the year’s great work! Everyone is welcome and invited to attend!

When:

Monday, December 4, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Where:

Hazard/Perry County Senior Center 354 Perry Park Road, Hazard, KY 41701

Bring a dish to share, an instrument to play, a silent auction item, or just bring yourself! Have questions? Need a ride? Call 606-263-4982.

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

16 | Balancing the Scales

Building Grassroots Power

KFTC members organizing in eastern Kentucky … organization. In October, the group met to develop initial goals and discuss forming a new, multi-county KFTC chapter.

continued from previous page from pension promises made to teachers and other public workers.

•

•

Nearly 70 people from at least five counties gathered at the Benham School House Inn in October for an evening conversation with guests from The Philanthropy Workshop about good work happening across the region to advance a Just Transition. A panel of speakers included Robert Gipe, director of Appalachian Studies at Southeast Community and Technical College; Carl Shoupe, a disabled retired miner and KFTC member; Blake Enlow, director of Christian Outreach with Appalachian People (COAP), Inc. in Harlan; Lacy Hale, a local artist and founder of EpiCentre Arts; Cara Stewart of Kentucky Equal Justice Center; Eric Dixon of Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center; and Herb E. Smith of Appalshop.

KFTC members in Knox, Laurel and Pulaski counties have held several local meetings, events and house parties to brainstorm ways to elevate KFTC’s organizing work in the area. In August, they organized a backyard party called “Backyard Brisket and Badminton” for members and other interested people to get to know each other and the

•

•

In Harlan County, high school KFTC member Chase Gladson has been spearheading efforts to revitalize the KFTC chapter. He and other members tabled at the 100th anniversary celebration for the city of Lynch and a recent festival in Harlan County. They also organized a community conversation and dessert potluck event, and participated in an important community conversation about the future of the old Belk Building in the city of Harlan. Harlan KFTC member Carl Shoupe also has continued to work hard this fall to raise funds and support for the Benham$aves program, an innovative energy efficiency program that KFTC members and allies helped get off the ground.

In Letcher County, a group of KFTC members recently held a local strategy meeting about local and state tax reform. Among their many concerns is the dramatic decline in payments by coal companies for property taxes on unmined minerals. In a related effort, Eric Dixon with Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center and several KFTC staff met last month with Letcher County Judge Executive Jim Ward

to discuss strategies to build support among local elected officials for the RECLAIM Act in Congress.

•

An aligned local organization, the Letcher Governance Project, is spearheading opposition to a proposed federal prison by getting hundreds of people to submit public comments about a Federal Environmental Impact Statement about the project.

•

KFTC hosted a day-long training about the history of social change organizing in Knott County in October for our cohort of 14 organizing apprentices from around the state. Later that evening the group of apprentices was joined by long-time community leaders and KFTC members for dinner and discussion. The group deeply appreciated John and Jean Rosenberg, Jeff and Sharman Chapman-Crane, Ludrenia Hagans-Shepherd, and many others for sharing their experiences.

•

KFTC members throughout the region have also been active in recent months and weeks in opposing proposed rate increases by Kentucky Power, a utility that serves parts of 20 counties in eastern Kentucky, and pushing rural electric co-ops to offer more and better clean energy options.

Counties hurting from loss of tax revenue

Unwanted Letcher prison still possible

Millions of dollars are being lost by schools and local governments in coal counties through the decline in tax revenue related to the coal industry. Eastern Kentucky counties, which generally have a less diverse economy than western Kentucky coal counties, are particularly hard hit.

School boards and county fiscal courts are dealing with a loss in some cases of 80-90 percent of their unmined minerals tax revenue, the property tax paid by owners of the state’s vast coal and mineral deposits. There have been similar declines in coal severance tax revenues.

The most recent drop came as a result of the Kentucky Revenue Cabinet changing some of the factors it uses in assessing the value of unmined mineral property.

While some decline in revenue was expected because there is less mining, the drop was dramatic and caught many school boards and county governments off guard. Added to drops in previous years, the loss of revenue has been 80-90 percent since 2012 for some schools.

Local government services that share in unmined minerals tax revenue include fiscal courts, libraries, health departments, extension services and conservation districts.

Several counties are contemplating legal action against the Bevin administration for failing to recognize the value of unmined minerals, a high percentage of which is owned as an investment by out-of-state interests.

Letcher County members worked in October with the Letcher Governance Project and others on a new round of public comments designed to stop a proposed new federal prison in the county.

The comments were in response to the release by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons of a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement that failed to address many of the concerns raised in past public comment periods.

Tops among those concerns were the building of the prison on a toxic former mountaintop removal site, and failing to consider a “no-build” alternative.

“The BOP continues to fail in fully analyzing environmental, land use and public health impacts as presented extensively in previous comment periods,” a letter to the BOP states.

In August, the Dept. of Justice removed $444 million in funds for the prison from its 2018 budget request. However, U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, the chief proponent of the prison, won’t let the project die. He added funding for the project back through the House Appropriations Committee and recently announced a $1 million grant for a water line extension for the prison site.

The BOP (and Rogers) still fail “to see the bigger picture by not taking serious consideration of real and reasonable alternatives to building this facility, as the DOJ has suggested,” the Governance Project letter states.

Some of those alternatives involve efforts to reduce the federal inmate population, which could make the prison unnecessary.

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 17

New Energy and Transition

Members push for congressional action on RECLAIM Act

This October, KFTC members Sarah Bowling, Larry Miller and Hattie Miller spent time in Washington, D.C. lobbying their congresspeople to pass the 2017 RECLAIM Act.

Larry is a retired coal miner from western Kentucky.

“I worked underground for 23 years and very proud of that work,” he said.

“I believe, however, that coal will never again be Kentucky’s primary economic engine. I am concerned that investments in mining operations here will eventually end. I take no pleasure in saying that, because I made a good living in coal for a long time, but it just looks like a reality to me.

“Legislation has been introduced in Congress to help coal communities address this problem. The RECLAIM Act, H.R.1731, is pending in Congress right now. It utilizes federally mandated, industry-funded fees – not taxpayer money – from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to provide much-needed jobs and economic development throughout the coalfields.”

The RECLAIM Act, introduced in Congress by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and U.S. Representative Hal Rogers after a push from coalfields residents, would help coal mining communities make a just transition by disbursing $1 billion over five years from the already-existing federal fund to reclaim abandoned mine sites. Up to $100 million of that money could come directly to Kentucky to repair land and water in places that are struggling with the decline of the coal industry.

The Millers and Bowling told Kentucky lawmakers why the bill must pass with strong provisions for economic development and the importance of community participation related to the reclamation of the abandoned sites. The bill that McConnell introduced in the Senate has not yet included this language – which is exactly why KFTC members are taking grassroots action to pressure McConnell and other congresspeople to pass the bill, the right way.

While in the capital, their delegation met with the staff of Representatives Andy Barr, Rogers, and Thomas Massie, as well as with Larry Miller (left), Hattie Miller, Sarah Bowling and JudgeSenators Rand Paul and McConnell. The aides Executive Jim Ward (right) met with Jakob Johnson (second of some representatives, like Rogers and Barr, from left) and Megan Bell (third from right) of U.S. Rep. Hal were friendlier than others.

McConnell, in particular, will need more grassroots

The Millers and Bowling were able to make pressure to make the right choice. McConnell was not a direct case for including provisions for economic development and community participation to Rogers’ present in person during the meeting with his staffers, staff. They also made it clear to Barr’s staff that the version but he did send the delegation a card expressing his of the bill introduced by McConnell in the Senate had support for his version of the RECLAIM Act.

Despite this, the bill doesn’t seem like a priority for a long way to go before it would be just.

The three KFTC members also had the opportunity McConnell, who hasn’t done much to advance it since to link up with other RECLAIM advocates from around introducing it, according to Bowling.

“We want to see Mitch McConnell actively pushing the country and to be trained by the National Wildlife this,” she explained. “He hasn’t put teeth in it. He’ll show Federation on the most effective ways to grassroots lobby. he cares by the work he does on it.”

“I felt informed, I felt prepared and I was encouraged

Larry expressed a similar hesitation. “I want to be to make the ask,” Larry noted. encouraged by what [McConnell] said, but at the same According to Hattie, most representatives they time I’ve seen him in action.” met with were receptive to their message, especially in

With this in mind Bowling and the Millers all comparison to previous lobbying emphasized the same thing: they need the help of KFTC trips that she had done. “This time, members to keep up the pressure. they had a whole page of notes about

Having been voted out of committee, the next what we said,” she reflected.

Larry felt there was more procedural step is for the bill to be introduced on the You’re part of a community of people who interest in discussing RECLAIM this House floor. KFTC members and allies are now asking time around, and Bowling expressed legislators to do what they can to see the bill, which has share a vision for Kentucky. that having Judge-Executive Jim a remarkable amount of bipartisan support, brought to Ward from Letcher County added the floor for a vote.

You impact issues that are important to credibility to the coalition and What supporters can do is keep contacting you. You’ll receive information, training changed the whole dynamic of how federal legislators and ask their local elected officials and opportunities to speak directly with to reach out to McConnell urging him to act to move the group was received by staffers. decision makers.

At the same time, all three the RECLAIM Act forward, with the provisions for KFTC members agree that there is economic development and community participation You amplify your voice and build New that are included in the House bill. a lot more to be done.

Power. Working together, we do so much

Despite the increased interest, One way to get involved is sign KFTC’s petition more than any of us can do alone.

“Kentucky legislators aren’t coming calling for a strong RECLAIM Act at kftc.org/reclaim. out in support of this like we want Then call representatives and senators in support of the You get fellowship and fun with others who to see them,” Bowling reflected. RECLAIM Act. share your values. “[They’re] not committed like we According to Larry, “KFTC is a power-center on my side.” need them to be.”

AS a kftc member …

• •

•

•

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

18 | Balancing the Scales

New Energy and Transition

Act to protect the Clean Power Plan and clean energy jobs The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, led by anti-health, anti-environment crusader Scott Pruitt, took the next step in October in its effort to undo the Clean Power Plan (CPP). In October, Pruitt announced that the Trump administration is taking formal steps to repeal the CPP. A public comment period is now open for stakeholders to make their concerns known.

“The rollback of the Clean Power Plan was my greatest fear during the 2016 election, and now the Trump administration is moving ahead with it,” said Tona Barkley, a member of KFTC’s New Energy and Transition Committee. “The Clean Power Plan is the greatest step forward the U.S. has taken to protect our children’s and grandchildren’s future from the most devastating effects of climate change. It is literally the least we can do.

“To turn back now is an act of insanity. The plan has already been delayed far too long. I pray that the justice system will preserve the plan and lead to its quick implementation.”

The CPP is a rule established under the Obama administration aimed at reducing greenhouse gas pollution from the electric power sector roughly 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. The rule has never been implemented due to legal challenges, though no court has yet issued a ruling on the merits of the CPP. The CPP asked states to develop their own plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) from power plants. It required states to lead a public planning process, and gave them time and flexibility to come up with the best and most cost effective ways to comply.

“A majority of states have adopted renewable energy and efficiency standards to put their electric utilities on a glide-path to a low-carbon future. Kentucky, alas, is not one of them,” pointed out Steve Wilkins, also a NET Committee member. “We need to clean house in Kentucky, where a majority of legislators are still deep in the pockets of coal barons. No longer can we tolerate

legislators who have told us “It seems particularly cruel that McConnell would choose no bill with eastern Kentucky – the region of the state perhaps most in the term ‘clean energy’ will need of new jobs – to announce he is helping the president ever see a vote.” quash the potential for tens of thousands of those jobs.”

In 2015, when it was — Harlan County member Stanley Sturgill in an op-ed after Kentucky Senator clear that Mitch McConnell brought EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to Hazard to announce K e n t u c k y ’s their plans to undermine the Clean Power Plan. political l e a d e r s responsible for implementing the Clean Power Plan be 10 percent lower under the Empower Kentucky Plan, would do nothing to comply, KFTC members took compared to the business-as-usual case. Carbon dioxide on the task. They launched the Empower Kentucky emissions from Kentucky’s power sector would be 40 Project to develop a people’s energy plan for Kentucky, percent lower than they were in 2005, exceeding the determined to show that a Just Transition to a clean CPP’s requirement for Kentucky. And other power plant energy economy is possible in Kentucky. pollutants associated with increased rates of asthma and KFTC members released the Empower Kentucky heart attacks would be greatly reduced.

Plan in April 2017 (empowerkentucky.org). The plan is The Empower Kentucky Plan is just one of many loaded with homegrown solutions that produce better studies showing that the Clean Power Plan goals can outcomes for Kentuckians in terms of jobs, health, and be met or exceeded while maintaining affordable and a just transition than the business-as-usual scenario reliable power, resulting in better health and millions supported by the Bevin administration. of good new jobs in the clean energy sector. In fact,

“Since when was ‘business as usual’ ever a strategy for the rapidly falling costs of solar and wind mean that growth and advancement of an individual, a company, a complying with the Clean Power Plan will be far cheaper state or a country?” asked Wilkins. “We need to keep up and faster than early projections. the fight for even stronger climate mitigation solutions Despite those benefits, President Trump and EPA than the Clean Power Plan.”

Director Pruitt have repeatedly said they intend to repeal Over 15 years, the Empower Kentucky Plan would the Clean Power Plan. And with this latest action, the create 46,300 more job-years and invest nearly $400 EPA has taken the first formal step in that process. million in programs that support a Just Transition for As required, the EPA released several documents workers and communities affected by Kentucky’s energy attempting to justify its decision, and a short public transition, according to an independent analysis. comment period on their proposed action has been

At the end of 15 years, average residential bills would opened through December 15.

Learn how to submit comments on the next page.

Additional information The Clean Power Plan and the EPA’s claims about why it is being repealed are long and complicated documents. Anyone wanting a deeper understanding is encouraged to: • • •

Visit EmpowerKentucky.org to learn more about KFTC’s people’s energy plan.

Look for articles by David Roberts, a utility and energy expert who writes for vox.com. In an article published on October 17, Roberts describes key reasons why the Trump administration’s efforts to repeal the Clean Power Plan are deeply flawed and legally vulnerable.

Look for posts by David Doniger, an air quality expert at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

He has written several important pieces since the EPA’s announcement, highlighting ways Pruitt and the EPA have “cooked the books” in their analysis of the costs and benefits of implementing the Clean Power Plan.

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 19

New Energy and Transition

Submitting comments on proposed Clean Power Plan repeal Below are several ways to submit comments to the EPA about its plan to roll back the Clean Power Plan rule.

Online: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for submitting comments to EPA-HQOAR-2017-0355.

Email: Comments may be sent to a-and-r-Docket@epa. gov. Include “Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2017-0355” in the subject line of the message.

Fax: Fax comments to: (202) 566-9744. Attention: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2017-0355.

Mail: Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Mail Code 28221T, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2017-0355, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460.

To review EPA’s legal notice and description of the proposed repeal, go to: https://www.regulations.gov/ docket?D=EPA-HQ-OAR-2017-0355.

Comments can be brief and to the point. Here is some suggested language: The EPA has a moral and a legal obligation to take action to mitigate the dire threat of climate change – and those necessary actions can produce essential benefits in terms of jobs, health, affordability, and support for a Just Transition.

I oppose all efforts by the Trump administration to weaken or repeal policies and programs that protect our health and climate, including the Clean Power Plan.

The Clean Power Plan is a flexible rule that requires states to develop and implement plans to protect the air we breathe and the climate that sustains us. In fact the CPP doesn’t go nearly far enough; it is the least we should be doing to address the real dangers of global climate change.

In Kentucky, a grassroots organization did our state’s job for them. We developed a People’s Energy Plan (www.empowerkentucky.org) that shows it’s possible – here in Kentucky – to create more jobs, improve health, reduce average bills, support a just transition for workers and communities, and exceed the CPP’s requirement for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

It is time to stop endangering our health, jobs and climate. I urge you to keep and strengthen the Clean Power Plan. Stop looking backwards and get busy taking actions that can create good jobs and better health, especially in low-income and people of color communities, and protect our climate.

Some projected benefits of implementing the Empower Kentucky Plan

800 Acorns to celebrate the forests In the picture at left, KFTC leader Teri Blanton and her granddaughter Sam plant one of 800 acorns planted by volunteers on a former strip mine site in Laurel County.

The “800 Acorns” event, coordinated by Erik Reece with Writers and Artists for Reforestation, along with Green Forest Works and the University of Kentucky Appalachian Center, commemorated the 800th anniversary of the signing by King Henry III of the Charter for the Forest, a companion document to the Magna Carta.

According to Reece, “The Carta de Foresta established the rights of commoners to hunt, pas-

ture and collect essential resources from the King’s Royal Forest without fear of punitive reprisal. As such, the Charter of the Forest represents one of the first legal documents in the English-speaking world to recognize access to public lands – and the protection of public lands – as a basic human right.”

Besides planting, the event included an art installation involving the construction of a meditation hut and placement of several plaques with poems by Kentucky poets about trees. The site, mined in the late 1970s, is now part of the Daniel Boone National Forest.

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

20 | Balancing the Scales

New Energy and Transition

Ky. Power seeking a punishing rate hike in eastern Kentucky

Kentucky Power wants to raise electricity rates at a time when many of its customers in eastern Kentucky are experiencing deep economic distress and impossibly high electric bills.

Kentucky Power is a subsidiary of American Electric Power, one of the nation’s largest utilities.

It serves 168,000 customers in 20 eastern Kentucky

counties. Last summer the company asked the Kentucky Public Service Commission for permission to charge its customers $63 million more annually, an increase of about 15%. A decision is expected by January 2018.

Under Kentucky Power’s proposal, several itemized charges that now appear on customers’ bills would go

Take Action Written comments about the proposed rate hike are being accepted by the Kentucky Public Service Commission. All written comments must include the case number: #2017-00179.

Comments may be mailed to the PSC at P.O. Box 615, Frankfort, KY 40602, or faxed to 502-5643460. Send emailed comments to psc.info@ky.gov with the case number in the subject line: #2017-00179.

Documents related to this rate case can be found here on the Public Service Commission’s website (http://bit.ly/2loYewd).

The PSC is made up of three commissioners, all of whom have been appointed by Governor Bevin since 2015: Chairman Michael J. Schmitt (from Paintsville), vice-chair Robert Cicero (from northern Kentucky), and commissioner Talina Mathews (originally from Jackson County).

Sample letter I am __________(Briefly describe yourself.)

I am very concerned about Kentucky Power’s punishing proposals to raise our rates while rolling back energy efficiency programs.

Eastern Kentuckians want fair and affordable energy bills.

• We want Kentucky Power to do more, not less, to help customers fix up homes and businesses to save energy and money.

• We want more clean energy choices so our homes, workers and communities can benefit from increasingly cheap solar power.

• And we want corporate accountability: AEP and Kentucky Power executives and investors should shoulder a fair share of the risk and costs.

Kentucky Power’s proposal takes us in the wrong direction on nearly all those counts. It leaves eastern Kentucky ratepayers – not shareholders or executives – on the hook to pay for AEP’s bad deals and bad decisions in other states. It hurts people on low and fixed incomes. It will send our monthly energy bills soaring, when they are already unacceptably high. This proposal delivers a body blow to our region at a time when we are struggling on so many levels to stabilize our communities and build a brighter future together.

The Kentucky Public Service Commission must ensure that Kentucky Power’s rates are fair and necessary, and that they don’t unfairly punish low and moderate income people. For all those reasons, you must reject Kentucky Power’s proposed rate increase. I’m another Kentuckian who believes the PSC should require Kentucky Power and AEP to shoulder their fair share of the risks and costs of bad business decisions, and should not allow them to reap excessive profits while our people suffer.

Sincerely, Your Name

away, but those costs and more would be rolled into new, higher rates.

For example, the monthly service charge that all residential customers pay would rise from $11 to $17.50, and the residential energy charge would increase from 8.795 cents per kilowatt-hour to 10.835 cents per kilowatt-hour. Taken together, these changes are expected to spike the average residential bill by almost $21 monthly, from $142.20 to nearly $163 per month.

The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office is challenging many of the company’s claims and seeking to reduce the size of the rate increase. Many residents, business groups, school superintendents and elected officials also have expressed concerns. Right now is a critical moment to make concerns heard.

KFTC members were planning to attend three public hearings in eastern Kentucky in early November (November 2 in Prestonsburg; November 6 in Hazard; and November 8 in Ashland).

Background information Kentucky Power is a subsidiary of American Electric Power, one of the nation’s largest utilities. It serves 168,000 customers in eastern Kentucky (see map shaded area).

Kentucky’s utilities are legal monopolies.

In return for their monopoly p o w e r, they are regulated by the state Public Service Commission.

The PSC sets the terms that the utilities must live by: What they can charge?

Can they build new power plants?

What kind of power plants can they build? And more.

This system has many up and down sides; many other states do things differently.

In theory, regulated monopolies are supposed to provide reliable operation of an expensive and complex system, while also protecting the interests of consumers.

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 21

Energy and Water

Pipeline fight shifting after federal abandonment approval

The campaign to stop a proposed hazardous liquids pipeline is likely to take a more local and legal focus after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission – not considering comments from thousands of Kentuckians opposed to the project – approved the company’s request.

“This recent decision does not mean the end of opposition. Boyle County entities and citizens are already analyzing and considering various options.

There are already several safeguards in place,” Tena Messer informed her neighbors in a letter published in the Danville Advocate-Messenger.

Energy giant Kinder Morgan wants to run the hazardous liquids through the existing 70-year-old Tennessee Gas Pipeline that runs through 18 Kentucky counties. To do so, it needed FERC approval to abandon the existing natural gas service supplied by the pipeline, which runs a total of 964 miles from northeast Ohio to the Gulf Coast.

FERC, with new commissioners appointed by President Donald Trump, gave that approval on September 29. On October 30, the Kentucky Resources Council requested a re-hearing before FERC. KFTC members in the Wilderness Trace, Madison, Rowan and Southern Kentucky chapters as well as Marion County and elsewhere have worked with ally groups to

organize against the pipeline re-purposing. Fiscal courts in these counties and others passed resolutions opposing the pipeline.

In Boyle County, all the local governing bodies plus the Economic Development Partnership and the Danville-Boyle County Planning and Zoning Commission are on record in opposition. The Planning and Zoning Commission now requires any entity transporting hazardous material through Boyle County to obtain a conditional-use permit from the Board of Adjustments. Kinder Morgan would have to prove the environmental safety of such a proposal.

Kinder Morgan is expected to challenge those local laws, as members feel it is unlikely the company can prove its pipeline would be safe.

As many have pointed out, the pipeline was constructed more than 70 years ago using antiquated and, by today’s standards, unacceptable welding techniques. At peak capacity it would carry 400,000 barrels of natural gas liquids a day.

NGLs are considered 100 to 150 times more explosive than natural gas, depending upon the mix of materials in the pipeline, according to Danville resident Jim Porter. That means the “blast zone” radius for a catastrophic accident could be up to 5,000 feet.

Legal threat gets coal ash results from Duke

To protect Boone County residents and downstream Ohio River communities from a toxic waste disaster, Earthjustice on behalf of KFTC notified Duke Energy in late September of plans to file legal action to compel Duke to stop withholding critical safety information needed in the event of a coal ash spill.

An Emergency Evacuation Plan is required since the coal ash dumps at Duke’s East Bend power plant near Rabbit Hash represent a “significant hazard” in the event of a spill. The impoundments hold 1.4 million tons of toxic waste behind aging earthen dams on the banks of the Ohio River.

The law requires that evacuation plans, including the maps showing where spilled toxic coal ash would go, be posted on publicly accessible websites. Duke Energy, however, had refused to include critical information, including spill maps and contact information, in the plans it posted online for its East Bend plant.

After the Notice of Intent to Sue, however, Duke agreed to provide that information for its East Bend and other coal-burning plants around the country.

“Residents in the path of a slurry pond breach have a right to know what the dangers are. For Duke

Energy to hide this information from the public was unconscionable,” said KFTC member Mary Love.

By early October, Duke Energy had posted online the required maps and related public safety information.

“We’re glad the public now has this information that it should have had months ago,” said Earthjustice Project Attorney Jenny Cassel.

“These dumps need to be cleaned up, period. Too many people are unaware of the pollution nightmare scenario posed by the toxics dumped in these huge pits after a power plant burns coal. We’re talking about arsenic, lead, chromium and other toxics that can cause cancer and brain damage in people, and also can accumulate in the environment and move up the food chain. People shouldn’t have to live with these threats. The dumps should be cleaned up,” Cassel added.

“Now that we have Duke Energy’s maps showing where the pollution would spread during a catastrophic spill, we are all now closely studying them to make sure citizens are prepared. Meanwhile, we’ll keep working to get the dumps cleaned up once and for all.”

Duke Energy is the largest utility in the U.S. and the only one that was withholding this critical information.

Lewis

Greenup Carter

Bath

Rowan

Montgomery Clark Powell Madison Boyle Marion

Taylor Hart

Garrard

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Adapted from a Kinder Morgan map.

Greene

Barren

Simpson

Allen

Kinder Morgan’s Tennessee Gas Pipeline goes through 18 Kentucky counties.

It runs much closer than that to schools, residential neighborhoods, business districts, major roadways and other populated areas in the 16 Kentucky counties.

In addition, more than 300,000 gallons a day could leak from the pipeline without being detected by monitoring equipment. Those leaks could contaminate groundwater and form highly explosive, odorless and colorless gas clouds that settle in low-lying areas and could be set off with a simple spark from a car or tractor engine. (Under pressure NGLs are in liquid form in the pipeline, but 85 percent would turn to gas when released into the atmosphere.)

Opponents of the pipeline submitted hundreds of letters and comments on several occasions to FERC, asking the agency to block the project or at least require a full Environmental Impact Statement. In both cases, the agency has now refused.

FERC claims that its authority applies only to the Kinder Morgan request to abandon the existing natural gas service for the pipeline, and that it has no say in what the company then does with the pipeline.

However, there is no other state or federal agency from which Kinder Morgan must get a permit. That, in effect, many argued, gave FERC de facto power to approve the re-purposing project.

Porter, who studied FERC’s 77-page decision, said, “The following boilerplate statement must appear at least 10 times in [FERC’s decision]: ‘We reiterate: our jurisdiction over the subject pipeline ends once it is abandoned in accord with the conditions we specify herein.

If the abandoned pipeline is later repurposed to transport anything other than natural gas in interstate commerce, the Commission will play no role in that resurrection.’”

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

22 | Balancing the Scales

Notes from the field

KFTC Organizer Apprentices reflect on their unique experiences and learning opportunities.

Youth involvement with KFTC led to current staff positions

By Nikita Perumal KFTC Organizer Apprentice, Lexington During an Organizer Apprentice training in Hindman on October 11, a few KFTC staff members and I found ourselves taking a trip down memory lane.

During the training, w h i c h c ove re d t h e history of social change Nikita Perumal in Kentucky, I discovered that my fellow staff members Molly Kaviar and Becky Jones had been in the same room as me back in 2010, at a KFTC youth-led meeting with Governor Beshear’s staff during I Love Mountains Day To this day, I look back at that youth-led meeting, and the other handful of KFTC youth events that I participated in during my high school days, as my entry-point into activism and grassroots organizing.

That’s why I found it so meaningful to discover that I’m not the only staff member to have gotten my start in this way. Becky Jones is a fellow Organizer Apprentice, and Molly Kaviar is our Southern Kentucky community organizer. Becky and I both spoke at the event, and Molly remembers attending and supporting the Kentucky youth as we pushed back on five of the governor’s staff’s “waffling.” We worked hard to keep the staff accountable, and Becky

by the end of the meeting had successfully pressured them into finally setting up a meeting between Beshear and KFTC.

I remember clearly, as a timid and studious 16-yearold, feeling powerful and capable for one of the first times in my life at that event – all because KFTC had simply asked me to do something, and trained me well to do it. It was that act Photo of the 2010 youth group that met with Gov. Steve Beshear’s staff during of participating, not just I Love Mountains Day. Nikita Perumal is second from the left and Becky Jones observing, that started to is fourth from the left in the back (partially hidden). change things for me.

That day, and all the other KFTC work I did in organize the 2010 event. “One of the special aspects of the high school, made me feel like I could be a leader. Like group is that it was entirely youth led,” Carissa reflected.

I had a voice that could matter in politics, and in life.

“KFTC's I Love Mountains Day was always filled

Becky, too, considers the event to have been a crucial with so many young people traveling to Frankfort to moment in their youth. “This was a space where I felt march for clean air and water and thriving mountain seen and appreciated by my peers and by adults alike, communities. It was a great organizing opportunity to which was so valuable to me as a super work with two dozen young people who attended that insecure teenager,” they told me. “And it day and wanted to take their advocacy even further. was my first experience of what it feels like They were bright, articulate, informed and visionary. to band together with others to learn from And they expected the same of their elected leaders.” one another and then use our collective I can’t help but agree. It certainly was a great experience to speak truth to power, which organizing opportunity. The fact that three of those has honestly stuck with me since.” two dozen young people ended up finding their way Another staff member I’ve talked back to KFTC, seven years later, speaks volumes to how to about that day is KFTC Organizing much youth engagement can make an impact. I know Co-director Carissa Lenfert, who helped it did for me.

Jones

Hindman training brought feelings of being at home across the state

By Lesley Garrett Organizer Apprentice, Bowling Green

On October 11, the Apprentice Cohort met in Hindman for a training on the history of organizing in Kentucky. Jacob MackBoll was kind enough to host those of us from the west end, so we drove up the night before. My dog, Aria, travels with me when she can, and we always ride with the windows down.

Lesley Garrett

Born and raised in Paducah, I’ve never been familiar with eastern Kentucky. It always seemed distant, another place entirely.

However, rolling in after some rain, I felt at home.

My highlight of the trip was the meet-and-greet at Hindman Settlement School after the training.

Organizing is all about relationships, and there’s no better way to bond than over dinner.

I talked with eastern Kentucky members about their experiences combating coal, and current struggles against white supremacy. We talked about art as a tool for organizing and communicating injustice, such as member Jeff Chapman-Crane’s sculpture about mountaintop removal.

The conversations mirrored many I’ve had in western Kentucky, where we’re also working to dismantle white supremacy in culture and hearts as well as encourage creative approaches to justice. If you caught the western Kentucky hour of the People’s Emergency Health Care Hearing back in June, the poets featured are part of the River City Poets based in Paducah.

All that to say, the work is expanding and my heart is full.

I adore this state of ours, and the people who have and continue to make it a better place.

Let’s visit one another more often.

Much love.

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

Balancing the Scales | 23

KFTC News

Leader Cohort selection underway as Organizing Academy activity grows KFTC’s Organizing Academy received 45 applications for its first Leader Cohort that will begin in January.

Selected applicants will be interviewed in November, with the first cohort participants publicly announced on December 1. The goal is to have about 20 people in the first cohort, which will start in January.

The Organizing Academy was launched in August to increase KFTC’s capacity to develop new grassroots leaders with more popular education-oriented training, to help emerging leaders develop their information, skills, relationships and confidence.

The Academy complements KFTC’s Community Organizer Apprentice Program (a 19-month, on-the-job training program) that began in June.

The focus of this initial six-month leader cohort is to give participants a basic working knowledge of community organizing. Titled “Organizing 101: Building Power Through Organizing,” the program will include such topics as understanding and relating to power, nonviolent direct action, grassroots base building and fundraising, deep canvassing, one-on-one conversations, campaigns, strategy building and more.

As part of the selection process, KFTC will work to ensure that there is representation from areas across the state and perspectives from a variety of people and experiences representing Kentucky and KFTC. This initial cohort also is a pilot program – participants will be able to and expected to offer feedback and shape the program for themselves and future cohorts.

Several new chapter representatives and statewide officers attended their first KFTC Steering Committee meeting in September. They took some time to get to know each other better with a rotating one-on-one conversational exercise.

The committee meets again December 1-2 to evaluate work during 2017 and begin considerations on the 2018 budget and Program of Work.

KFTC staff transitions Besides a number of new hires the past few months, KFTC also said goodbye to a couple of staff people.

Sara Pennington, KFTC’s New Energy and Transition Campaign Organizer for the past several years, left the staff in September. She now serves as the campaign director at We Own It, a national network working on rural electric co-op reform.

Also, Ryeshia Reves, the chapter organizer in Jefferson County, resigned her position in the summer.

Lots of ways to take meaningful action in this issue Reasons to contact members of Congress (list on page 8): • to oppose more huge tax breaks for the wealthy and devastating cuts to essential programs (see page 5) • to support DACA youth (page 8) • to support the RECLAIM Act (page 17) • to oppose the rollback of the Clean Power Plan (page 19) Reasons to contact KFTC: • to become a Sustaining Giver or renew your membership (page 6 or www.kftc.org/donate) Reasons to contact the Public Service Commission: • to comment on Kentucky Power’s proposed rate hike (page 21)

Reason to contact state legislators: • to oppose the plan to eliminate the public pension system (page 4)

www.kftc.org | November 1, 2017

24 | Balancing the Scales

calendar of events

KFTC OFFICES and STAFF MAIN OFFICE

November 6 – Chapter meeting Wilderness Trace, 7 p.m.

InterCounty Energy Community Room 1009 Hustonville Rd., Danville Info: Sasha@kftc.org or 859-358-9713

November 21 Chapter meeting – Northern Kentucky 7 p.m. at Center for Great Neighborhoods 321 W. 12th Street, Covington Info: Joe@kftc.org or 859-380-6103

Morgan Brown, Burt Lauderdale, Ashley Frasher, Jonah Cabiles, Angel Hill and Jacob Mack-Boll 131 North Mill Street P.O. Box 1450 | London, Kentucky 40743 606-878-2161 | Fax: 606-878-5714

November 7 – Unpack Politics panel Northern Kentucky Chapter Kenton County Public Library 502 Scott Blvd in Covington Info: Joe@kftc.org or 859-380-6103

November 27 Chapter meeting – Madison County 7 p.m. at Berea Friends Meeting House 300 Harrison Street, Berea Info: Sasha@kftc.org or 859-358-9713

FIELD OFFICES

November 7 – Action for Democracy launch (statewide video conference) 7 p.m. on Zoom Register at: kftc.org/afd-launch Info: Alicia@kftc.org or 502-589-3188

November 28 Chapter meeting – Southern Kentucky 6 p.m. at Foundry Community Center 531 W 11th Ave. in Bowling Green Info: Molly@kftc.org or 502-599-3989

November 11 – Artie Pie Party!

Scott County, 7 p.m.

Yuko En on the Elkhorn 700 US 25 in Georgetown Info: Joe@kftc.org or 859-380-6103

December 1-2 KFTC Steering Committee meeting 10:30 - 4:30 near Berea Info: Heather@kftc.org or 859-276-0563

November 13, December 11 Chapter meeting – Jefferson County 6:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church 809 S. 4th St., Louisville Info: Alicia@kftc.org or 502-589-3188 November 16, December 21 Chapter meetings – Rowan County 6 p.m., St. Albans Church 145 E. 5th St., Morehead Info: Jonah@kftc.org or 502-488-3830 November 16, December 21 Chapter meetings (and holiday party in Dec.) Central Kentucky, 7 p.m.

Episcopal Mission House 203 E. 4th Street, Lexington Info: Meredith@kftc.org or 859-276-0563 November 19 Central Kentucky Chili Cook Off 4-7 p.m. at The Burl 375 Thompson Road in Lexington Info: Meredith@kftc.org or 859-276-0563 November 19 Chapter meeting – Western Kentucky 4 p.m. at Murray State University Info: Lesley@kftc.org or 270-282-4553

December 4 – Eastern Kentucky Holiday Party (all chapters) 6 p.m.

Hazard/Perry County Senior Center 354 Perry Park Road, Hazard Info: Jacob@kftc.org or 606-878-2161 December 4 – Chapter meeting and potluck Holiday Party, Wilderness Trace 6:30 p.m., InterCounty Energy Community Room 1009 Hustonville Rd., Danville Info: Sasha@kftc.org or 859-358-9713

Louisville Elizabeth Adami, Aubrey Clemons, Alicia Hurle, Becky Jones and Carissa Lenfert 735 Lampton Street #202 Louisville, Ky. 40203 502-589-3188 Bowling Green Molly Kaviar, Laura Harper, Lesley Garrett, Alex Goldsmith and James Line 958 Collett Ave., Suite 500 Bowling Green, Ky. 42101 270-282-4553 Northern Kentucky Joe Gallenstein and Caitlin Sparks 640 Main Street Covington, Ky. 41005 859-380-6103 Central Kentucky Jessica Hays Lucas, Beth Howard, Heather Mahoney, Erik Hungerbuhler, Meredith Wadlington, Tyler Offerman, Sharon Murphy, Tayna Fogle, DeBraun Thomas and Nikita Perumal 250 Plaza Drive, Suite 4 Lexington, Ky 40503 859-276-0563

December 6 Lift One For Democracy with the Northern Kentucky chapter 5 p.m. at Braxton Brewing 27 W. 7th Street in Covington Info: Joe@kftc.org or 859-380-6103

Floyd County Jessie Skaggs and Jerry Hardt 152 North Lake Drive • P.O. Box 864 Prestonsburg, Ky 41653 606-263-4982

December 7 Chapter meeting – Scott County 6:30 p.m., location to be determined Info: Joe@kftc.org or 859-380-6103

Berea Lisa Abbott, Amy Hogg, Kevin Pentz, Sasha Zaring and Michael Harrington 210 N. Broadway, Unit #3 Berea, Ky 40403

December 19 Chapter meeting – Northern Kentucky 7 p.m. at Center for Great Neighborhoods 321 W. 12th Street, Covington Info: Joe@kftc.org or 859-380-6103

859-756-4027

Email any staff member at firstname@kftc.org except for Jessica Hays Lucas, use jessicabreen@ kftc.org; Beth Howard, use bethhoward@kftc.org